Finishing performance in organic beef - OFRF-funded project report by R. Rosmann

Project Highlights		Funded Projects
Feeding beef cattle to produce healthier and highly acceptable beef
Harlan, IA - In this on-farm study, Ron Rosmann and a research team from Iowa State University compared the finishing performance of cattle fed to USDA choice grade on pasture and in the drylot.		For more information about this project:
	Project objectives were to determine the differences in CLA content of organic beef produced by cattle that are grass-finished with minimal grain, to that from cattle that are conventionally grain finished. Also, to determine the time required to grade cattle to choice grade within the two systems, and to determine the eating qualities and economic differences of the two finishing systems.	Project report summary [pdf] 5 pp Full project report [pdf] 14 pp Post-project commentary by Ron Rosmann and Roberto Sonon Performance tables, including Fatty acid composition of feeds; Fatty acid composition of different beef parts [pdf] 3 pp, 39K
Photo: Ron Rosmann with spring cows
Results showed that finishing cattle on pasture with limited grain supplementation is feasible and economically sound with reference to the usual practice on the farm where this study was conducted. Higher CLA and linolenic acid concentrations and omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratio strongly suggest that potentially healthier beef can be produced by the pasture system with limited grain supplementation (See performance tables). If beef with higher CLA and omega-e concentrations could be given a premium price, an even higher profit could be realized with the pasture-based finishing system.
Principal Investigator: Ron Rosmann, certified organic farmer, Harlan, Iowa Project location: Rosmann Family Farms, Harlan, Iowa CERTIFIED ORGANIC, including beef operation Cooperating investigators, Iowa State University, Ames Iowa: Donald Beitz, Dist. Prof. of Animal Science and Biochemistry Allen Trenkle, Dist. Prof. of Animal Science John Lawrence, Assoc. Prof. of Economics Roberto Sonon, Jr., Visiting Scientist James Russell, Prof. of Animal Science Keywords: organic livestock; grass-finished beef; fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid; Iowa; OFRF		OFRF funding: $13,870, fall 2002 Project period: 2002 Reported: January 2004